Eric Kim has often cited Apple co-founder Steve Jobs as a key inspiration, especially regarding creativity, design, and life philosophy. In his blog and interviews, Kim explicitly connects Jobs’s principles to photography and teaching. For example, a 2024 analysis of Kim’s writings notes that he “admires Jobs for his relentless drive for innovation and refusal to settle for mediocrity,” and that he highlights Jobs’s focus on a few key products and a “creative vision blending liberal arts with engineering” . These ideas manifest in Kim’s emphasis on quality and vision over quantity in his workshops and publications.
Simplicity and Minimalism
Kim strongly embraces Jobs’s aesthetic of simplicity. He frequently quotes the adage “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” a line Jobs popularized from Leonardo da Vinci . Kim applies this mantra to photography and life, arguing that minimalism helps “focus on the essentials” in art and daily habits . In practice, Kim’s website and teaching materials use clean, uncluttered layouts (much like Apple’s design style) to let content stand out. He also advises photographers to “aim for simplicity” in their work, echoing Jobs’s own design ethos.
- Kim often cites Jobs’s quote “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” as a guiding principle .
- He teaches minimal compositional techniques in street photography, removing distractions to highlight the core subject.
Attention to Detail and Excellence
A hallmark of Jobs’s philosophy was obsessive attention to detail, and Kim adopts this in his own craft. In his blog, Kim notes that “the small details in photography are what make a great image,” paralleling how Jobs insisted on flawlessness in Apple products . He urges photographers to refine every element of an image – from framing to post-processing – with the same rigor Jobs applied to product design. This pursuit of excellence also appears in Kim’s mindset: he quotes Jobs on never settling for mediocrity and constantly pushing oneself to create work that “stands the test of time” .
- Emphasizing precision, Kim advises treating every detail in a photograph as critical, just as Jobs did with product features .
- He often says “we should never be satisfied with mediocrity,” reflecting Jobs’s legacy of high standards .
Innovation and “Think Different”
Kim channels Jobs’s innovative spirit and the famous “Think Different” ethos. He encourages photographers to challenge norms and experiment boldly. For instance, Kim writes, “What made Steve Jobs great was his willingness to take risks and challenge the status quo. As creatives, we need to apply the same mindset—constantly seeking new ways to see the world and create art” . He explicitly invokes Jobs’s “Think Different” mantra, telling readers, “Don’t be afraid to go against the grain. True innovation comes from stepping out of your comfort zone” . This influence shows up in Kim’s content, where he often promotes unconventional projects (e.g. open-source photo sharing) and encourages learners to break out of creative ruts.
- Kim credits Jobs’s risk-taking: “What made Steve Jobs great was his willingness to take risks and challenge the status quo” .
- He urges students to “think differently,” adapting Jobs’s mantra for photographers .
User Experience and Emotional Design
Like Jobs, who “designed experiences,” Kim stresses the emotional impact of work. He notes that Jobs “didn’t just design products—he designed experiences,” and applies this to photography, saying photographers must consider “how our images affect the people who see them” . In Kim’s teaching, this translates to focusing not only on technical skill but on storytelling and connection. He emphasizes empathy with the subject and viewer, ensuring each photo resonates on a deeper level. This Jobs-inspired focus on user experience also influences Kim’s workshops and website, which are structured to be intuitive, engaging, and user-friendly (e.g. clear layouts and step-by-step guides).
- Kim explains that Jobs “designed experiences” and encourages photographers to craft images that emotionally engage viewers .
- He often structures lessons like Apple’s user-centric approach, walking students through concepts in a simple, impactful order.
Passion, Vision, and Work Ethic
Kim shares Jobs’s belief that great work requires passion. He invokes Jobs’s famous line “The only way to do great work is to love what you do,” advising photographers to follow their passion rather than seek external validation . In his writings he echoes that “passion is everything” for creative success . Like Jobs, Kim also stresses focus – valuing doing a few things very well. He praises Jobs’s approach of concentrating on a few key products and “staying true to creative vision” . This has influenced how Kim manages his projects: he prioritizes a handful of books, tutorials, and workshops instead of spreading himself thin.
- Kim highlights Jobs’s work ethic: he “showed us that passion is everything” and encourages staying true to one’s vision .
- He notes Jobs’s focus on a few products, a strategy Kim mirrors by limiting his own projects to maintain quality .
Open Philosophy vs. Closed Systems
Although Kim idolizes Jobs, he diverges on distribution strategy. In a 2017 essay he candidly writes, “I idolized Steve Jobs, but disagree on his closed approach.” Kim favors open-source ideas and free distribution, saying he makes all his photos and e-books free to spread creativity. This reflects Jobs’s empowerment ethos but adapted to a more open model. Kim still values Jobs’s innovation and design thinking, but applies it to a philosophy of generosity and sharing (e.g. open-downloadable presets and guides) rather than Apple’s walled-garden style .
Impact on Teaching, Design, and Branding
Steve Jobs’s influence is evident in Kim’s teaching style and personal brand. Kim often uses minimalist design and typography (clean fonts, ample white space) reminiscent of Apple’s aesthetic. His blog and “roadmap” guides have a simple, direct presentation. In class he stresses user-focused learning and storytelling, much like product demos. Philosophically, Kim’s blog entries and speeches frequently cite Jobs or his ideas as examples, weaving Apple-inspired lessons into photography advice. For instance, Kim has likened technology to “a bicycle for the mind,” echoing a famous Jobs metaphor about computers . This shows how he adopts Jobs’s language to empower photographers: just as Jobs saw computers enabling people, Kim sees cameras enabling creativity.
- Kim’s website and slides use a stark, Apple-like minimal style to emphasize content (an aesthetic choice inspired by Jobs).
- He repeatedly references Jobs quotes and lessons in his writing, framing photography education around Jobs-style creativity and vision.
Sources: Eric Kim’s own writings and interviews provide ample evidence of Jobs’s impact on his philosophy. For example, Kim explicitly links Jobs’s principles to photography in his blog , and analyses of his work note his admiration for Jobs’s innovation and focus . In his essay “How to Go Viral,” Kim even admits “I idolized Steve Jobs” while explaining his open-source approach . These citations and others show Kim integrating Jobs’s simplicity, passion, and “think different” attitude into his art and teaching .